CNN cans Rick Sanchez after controversial Sirius XM interview

CNN daytime news anchor Rick Sanchez has been cut loose by the cable news network after a lengthy interview on Sirius XM with Pete Dominick. During the course of the interview, Sanchez called Comedy Central star Jon Stewart a bigot and also criticized top management at CNN and other media outlets, as well as Stewart’s Jewish background.

Sanchez softened the “bigot” characterization of Stewart to “prejudicial,” but said Stewart behaved that way “Against anybody who doesn’t agree to his point of view, which is very much a white liberal establishment point of view.”

Sanchez is a Cuban-American, and claimed he has been subjected to subtle forms of discrimination. Stewart has often made fun of him on his “Daily Show.”

When Dominick mentioned that Stewart could also be said to be a member of a minority group due to his Judaic background, “Everybody that runs CNN is a lot like Stewart,” Mr. Sanchez said sarcastically, “And a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart. And to imply that somehow they — the people in this country who are Jewish — are an oppressed minority? Yeah.”

Friday, CNN stated, “Rick Sanchez is no longer with the company. We thank Rick for his years of service and we wish him well.”